.: Blogroll :.

So, Elana Johnson has started a list of recommended reads, and I immediately asked if I could take part! It’s a great idea, a bunch of writers writing about books that they admire. I decided to recommend an author who I think is brilliant and hilarious all at once, Terry Pratchett.

If you have never read Terry Prachett’s Discworld series, it’s about a world shuttled through space on the back of a giant turtle, held up by four elephants. These books are both fantasy (a genre I love) and parody of the real world. This series has it all; a cold, calculating Patrician who happens to be the only person capable of running the city; an orangutan librarian; the disheveled and terrified “Wizzard”, Rincewind, who is constantly forced into heroic actions; a walking trunk with a nasty temper and a BIG set of teeth; and the possibility of meeting Death around any corner – he’ll probably be the one in the black robe, petting the kitty cat. For more information on this amazing series of books, go ahead and check Wikipedia.

For new Discworld readers, Guards! Guards! is an excellent place to start. It follows the misadventures of the down-on-his-luck Captain of Ankh-Morpork’s night guard, Sam Vimes, and his crew of misfit men (Sergeant Colon, Corporal Nobbs, and new volunteer Carrot Ironfoundersson – a six foot tall dwarf) as they fight sobriety, the Thieves Guild, and a cranky Dragon who has just usurped the Patrician as ruler of the city.

The beauty of Discworld is in the simple humor around every corner. Guards! Guards! is not the first book in the series, but it IS one of my favorites and it begins the guard’s storyline.

Onto the Contest!

As my friend, C. Michael Fontes is giving away a copy of Ender’s Game to anyone who will leave a comment in his post, I have decided to do the same. To win a new copy of Guards! Guards!, leave a post in my blog and I will enter you for a chance to win. For an added bonus, link my blog to yours and I will give you a second entry (just provide the link to your blog in your comment).

PLEASE make sure you use a valid email address in your comment!

I will draw the winner from my cool renaissance hat, in honor of Discword, on May 7th, midnight(ish) my time.

Terry Pratchett is a true marvel in literature and you did an excellent job reviewing the amazingly hilarious Diskworld. I would like to say that Guards Guards is one of my favorites, but I so thoroughly enjoyed so many of them I can’t tell which book, let alone which character is my favorite. Everybody out there who has not read this series would be well advised to find the time to try out at least one of these books, and I agree with Paula that Guards Guards is an excellent starting place. Keep up with the great posts!

wow, these are both great posts and your writing is so engaging even while you are blogging.
I do like Terry Pratchett, but I am not sure if I’ve read Guards! Guards! now I’ll have to see if I can find a copy here.
Looking forward to new posts!!!